Baggage carrier



G. H. WHEARY BAGGAGE CARRIER July 9, 1929.

Filed June 8, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet n o a u o o o o u o o o G. H. WHEARY1.720.158

BAGGAGE CARRIER I July 9, 1929.

Filed June 8, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Emma Hgnry Whunry G. H. WHEARYBAGGAGE CARRIER July 9, 1929.

s sheetssheet Filed June 8, 1927 EQnrqQ Hnry Whdry 3%. dm, han

@5 om@ l Patented July 9, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE HENRY WHEARY, F RACINE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO WH'EARY TRUNK'COMPANY, OF RACINE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN;

BAGGAGE Application led June 8,

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in baggagecarriers and has an object the provision of a solid bottom wardrobetrunk of improved design having the exterior` appearance of aconveiitional type of trunk.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of an improvedbaggage carrier which will be lighter than the baggage i0 carriers nowin use and, at the same time,

of sturdier construction` Another object of this invention resides inthe provision of an improved dooi type baggage carrier wherein the dooris flush with the outer surrounding surface.

-Another object of this invention resides in the provision of animproved solid bottom baggage carrier having its opposed side pairclsiiixed and its front and rear panels hinged to form doors permittingaccess to either compartment and, at the same time, presentingl anunbroken exterior appearance when the doors closed.

One objectionable feature of baggage carriers of the door type is thataccess is had to the drawer section from the narrow side instead of fromthe wide side in the conventional wardrobe trunk construction and thisinvention has as an object the provision of an improved solid bottom,door type trunli wherein access is had to the draver section from itswide side, without sacrifice in strength or in any wise breaking theoutward appearance of the trunk.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of an improvedbaggage carrier having one or more doors and a hinged top wherebyclosing of the hinged top locks the door or doors y Another object ofthis invention resides in the provision of an improved baggage carrierhavii f a Hush door pi'ovided with interlocking peripheral connectionsadapted to be under Vtension when the door is closed and which willexclude foreign mattei" at the marginal edges of the door.

Another object of my invention resides in the provision of an improvedbaggage car- CARRIER.

1927. Serial No. 197,380.

rier of the character described having acorner post over which a tubularmember is engaged to form a combination binding forv the trunk cornerand part of an interlocking connection with the adjacent edge of thetrunk door.

And a further object of this invention resides in the provision of adoor trunk in which the doors are flush with the trunk exterior and areprovided with concealed means for tying the edges ofthe doors to thetrunk proper when closed to give added strength thereto.

lVith the above and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, my invention resides in the novel? con-kstruction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially ashereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appendedclaims, it being understood that suchA changes in the precise embodimentof the heieiiidisclosed invention may be made as come within the scopeof the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated one complete example ofthe physical embodiment of my invention constructed according to thebest mode I have far devised for the practical application of theprinciples thereof, andin which zY Figure l is a perspective view of atrunk embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of my improved trunk in open position,parts thereof being broken away to illustrate details of construction 5Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view through Figure l on the plane ofthe line 3-3;

Figure 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view taken throughFigure l on the plane of the line 4 4;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken through Figure 3 on theplane of the line 5 5 and illustrating the door locking mechanism;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view of one portion of the corner post bindingand reinforcing member;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective -view of one of the hinged lidactuated door and of a depth equal to the combined depth of the wardrobeand drawer conipartments 6 and 7 defined by side panels or walls 8 and 9and a central partition 10, access being had to the compartments throughdoors 11and 12.y Corner posts 18 and 18 preferably of the constructionillustrated in my Letters Patent No. 1,119,188, dated December1, 1914,extend upwardly from the bottom and the panels 8 and 9 ai'e securedbetween the corner posts 18 and 18, respectively by rivets or othermeans and bindings 14 and 14 extend about the corner posts 18 and 18,respectively, and over the marginal edges of the panels 8 and 9, towhich they are secured by rivets 15 to dress the trunk exterior andimpart added strength thereto.

he bindings 14 and 14 form part of reinforcing and interlocking dowelmeans for the outer marginal edges of the door.

The doors 11 and 12 when closed forni the front and rear panels of thetrunk and are flush with the corner 'posts in the manner of the panels 8and 9. Hinges 16 pivotally mount the doors from the corner posts v18 andthe hinees are arranged with their butt-s recessed to eliminate allobjectional projections. f The doors are further provided with aninterlocking connection with the posts 18, when closed, to excludeforeign matter.

Each door preferably terminates above the bottom 5 a slight distance andthe space therebeneath is filled by a. panel 17 connecting the posts 18and 18 and being reinforced by an improved corner piece 18 at thejuncture of each corner post with the base and extending above the topof the adjacent panel 17. The corner pieces 18 have their inner uppercorners cut away in register with the openings closed by the doors andthe cut-out portions of the coiner pieces carried by the posts 18 arefilled by the parts 19 of the bottom hinges 16. The cut-away portions ofcorner pieces 18 secured to the posts 18 are filled by plates 2O fixedto the lowermost, outer corners of the doors when closed, so that thecontinuity of the corner pieces iemain unbroken iii appearance when thedoois are closed.

A reinforcing binder 21 is secured over the outer and bottom marginaledges of each dooi', which is preferablyformed from strip metal bentangularly along a longitudinal line to form an end 22 for the door, thenoutwardly toward the front face 28 of the binder to forni a bead 24 andthen turned and extended inwardly over the door edge, as at 25, to, withthe bead 24, form a channel 26, the binder then extending along the doorinner surface parallel with t-lie outer portion 28, rivets 2T carryingout the effects of rivets 15, securing the binders to the doors.

Asbest illustrated in Figures 4 and 6, the bindings 14 and 14 are ofsubstantially tubular construction approximately conforming intransverse section to the cross section of the cerner posts ovei' whichthey are engaged from the top, being secured in place by the rivets 15extending through the outei' marginal edges thereof and the panels andby fastenings 28 securing the inner marginal portions thereof to theinner surface of the corner posts adjacent the side panels. The binding14 conforms with the curvature of the outer surface of the corner post18 and is bent inwardly along the inwardly extended wall 29 thereof, asat 80,' and then ti'a-nrwersely along the transverse wall 81 thereof, asat 82. From the wall 82, the bindingl is cuived outwardly and toward thewall and is then folded vinwardly upon itself along the wall 88 of thecorner post to define a channel 84 and a bead 85 cooperating with thebinder 21` bead 24 and channel 26, respectively.

The binding 14 is substantially identical with the binding 14 with theexception of the specific-shape of the bead and channel and that thewall 81 of the post 18 is set inwardly beyond that of the corner post 18by reason of the construction of the binder 21 secured over the innermarginal edge of the door. Y

The binding 21 is of channel shape ha ving its longitudinal marginalportions 86 and 87 embracing the outer and inner surfaces of the doorandl its end wall 88 the edge of the door, a bead 89 being foi'ined atthe juncture of the walls 87 and 88 -for engagement in the channel ofthe bind ing 14.

As will be evident, the bead and channel 86 of the bindings 14 and 14are so formed that the beads 24 and 89 of the binders 21 and 21 have avcomparatively snug engagement which is such that the door is yieldablyVsecured closed, after the beads and chaiin-e are once engaged. rlhejoint between the bindings 14 and 14 and the binders 21 and 21 isfurther protected against foreign matter passing the same by suitablepacking 40 inserted in the channels 84. w

The binders 14 and 14 are secured over the corner posts by being slippedthereever from the top p rior to the mounting of the uppermost fittingsor hardware, to be later described, and completely enea-se the cornerposts to give added rigidity thereto as well asprovide the interlockingconnections with the door when closed, and the outer surface of thebindings 21 and 21l form continua tions ot the binding 14 a11d14,respectively, so t-hat a uniform appearance is obtained.

Suitable fittings 41 are secured at the tops of the corner posts and areformed with dowel sockets 42 in which the dowel members 43 of cornermembers 44 of a hinged top or lid 45 engage, corner members 44 likewisehaving dowel members 46 engageable with dowel sockets 47 in members 48iixed to the upper corners ofthe doors, the members 48 cooperating togive al uniform aps pearaneel to the fittings 41. The lid or cover 45 ishinged to the panel 9 and is closed after the doors 11 and 12 have beenclosed and has aperipheral valance 49 which engagesover the top marginaledges ot the panel 8 and doors 11 and 12 to secure the doors closed attheir upper portions, there being means actuated by the movement ot thelid over the trunk to lock the out-er and lower edges of the doors. Thelid 45 may be locked by any conventional means such as a hasp 50 hingedthereto and engageablewith a lock plate 51 carried by the panel 8. Eachdoor has a vertical rod or bar 52 vertically slidably n'iounted adjacentits outer marginal edge by guides 53 with its upper end 54 in the pathof a metal strike plate 55 carried by the lid. The lower end 56 of thebar is project-able beyond the door bottom to engage a keeper 57 fixedto the adjacent panel 17 as best shown in Figure 5, a. spring 5Snormally urging the lock actuating bar upwardly so that opening ot' thelid or top automatically permits the unlocking ofthe lower portion otthe door. Added rigidity is imparted to the locking struct-ure by atransverse member 59 extended from the locking bar and braced by adiagonal member 60 and from which a locking member 61 depends. Themember 61 is guided by ai member 62 for engagement in a keeper 63carried by the panel 17.

The locking bars 52 likewise provide for locking the free ends ot` thedoors, l'iaving locking members 64 projected laterally therefromintervals ft'or engagement behind keepers 65 carried by the corner post13. The members 64 engage the keepersv G5 as the bar 52 is depressed bythe closing ot the lid to thus firmly secure the marginal edges ot' thedoor to the adjacent corner post.

The drawer section 7 is provided with drawers 66, the outer edges ofwhich are provided with laterally projecting flanges G7, and the flangeset the drawers in line with the keepers 65 are notched, as at 68, topermit the movement of the drawers therepast. The wardrobe section 6kofthe trunk, is likewise provided with a suitable trolley and hangers 69and means may be provided in the outer lowermost portion thereof formount-ing a removable shoe box or other container 70.

The partition 10 dividing the trunk into its respective compartments ispreferably secured in place by angle irons or other means 71 carried bythe panels 8 and 9 and provide the means for tying the side wallstogether when the trunk is open, when the trunk is closed an extremelystrong structure is obtained by reason of the doors 11 and 12 being tiedtogether at all points.

It will also be apparent that the objections heretofore exlsting totrunks of the door type, such as the protruding of clumsy and awkwardfittings and braces is entirely eliminated as the doors ot' the trunkare flush with the corner posts and irmly tie the trunk parts together,that the doors have the appearance of the side panels ot' the trunk andfurther that vthe closing of the lid 45 automatically effects thecomplete locking o't the doors and opening ot' the lid instantly unlocksthe trunks.

Tha t l claim as my invention is:

1.1'n a` baggage carrier including side panels and corner posts betweenwhich the panels are secured, access being had to the carrier interiorbetween two corner posts, a door for closing the space between thecorner posts, and means whereby the door is iush with the corner postswhen closed.

2. In a baggage carrier including side panels and corner posts to whichthe panel. side marginal edges are secured, access being had to thecarrier interior between two corner posts, a door for closing the spacebetween the corner posts, means whereby the door is flush with thecorner posts when closed, and means along the marginal edges of the doorwhen closed for excluding the entrance tl'ierepast of foreign matter.

3. In a baggage carrier including side panels and corner posts to whichthe panel side marginal edges are secured, access being had to thecarrier interior between two corner posts, a door for closing the spacebetween the corner posts, means whereby the door is iush with the cornerposts when closed, a hinged cover closing the top otl the carrier, andmeans operable upon movement of the hinged cover to closed position tolock the door.

4. In a baggage carrier, a solid bottom member, panels extendingupwardly from the bot-tom member, a hinged lid closing the top of thecarrier, means dividing the interior of the carrier into a wardrobe anda dra-wer section, means hinging the front and rear panels for movementto and from closed position to permit access to the respectivecompartments, interlocking means between the marginal edges of thehinged panels and the trunk corner posts, and means cooperating withsaid interlocking means to exclude foreign matter from entering thetrunk past lthe hinged panels.

5. In a baggage carrier construction, a corner post member havingrecessed faces disposed at right angles with respect to each other intransverse section, a panel adapted to be secured to the corner postwith its marginal edge secured to one offset ot the corner post, and adoor adapted when closed to yabut the other oi'set whereby the outersurface ot the door is- Hush with the outer surlace ot the corner post.

6. In a baggage carrier construction, a corner post member havingrecessed faces disposed at right angles with respect to each other intransverse section, a panel to be secured to the corner post with itsmarginal edge engaging one offset, a door adapted when closed to abutthe other offset whereby the outer surface ot the door is flush with theouter surface of the corner post member, and a binding strip connectingthe panel with the corner post member and having a portion extendedabout the corner post.

7. In a baggage carrier construction, a corner post member havingrecessed'tafcs disposed at right angles with respect to each other intransverse section, a panel adapted to be secured to `the corner pestwith its marginal edge engaging one olset, a door adapted when closed toabut the other offset `whereby the outer surface of the door is flushwith the outer surface of the corner post member, a binding stripconnecting the panel with the corner post member and having a portionextended about the corner post, and cooperating means between the doorand binder providing an interlocking connection `between the door andcorner post member when the ydoor is closed.

8. In a baggage carrier construction, a corner post member' havingrecessed 'faces disposed at right angles with respect to each other intransverse section, a panel secured to the corner post with its marginaledge engaging vone oti'set,'a door adapted when closed to abut the otheroffset whereby the outer suriace ol the door is flush with the outersurface of the corner post member, and a metallic binder strip formedsov as to encase the post member, a part thereof being extended andconnected with `the panel and another part thereof engaging the adjacentdoor edge.

9. In a baggage carrier construction, a. corner post member havingrecessed taces disposed at right angles with respect to each other intransverse section, a panel secured to the corner post with its marginaledge engaging` one offset, a door adapted when closed to abut the otheroffset whereby the outer surface of the door is flush with the outersurface of the corner post member, a

metallic binder strip formed so as to encase the post member, andcooperating means be-v tween the strip and door providing aninterlocking engagement therebetween when the door is closed.

10. In a baggage carrier having av onepiece bottom member, a pair offixed panels extended from opposite sides ot the bottom member, apartition member connecting the panels at a medial point and dividingthe carrier into sections, doors hinged to the opposite sides of one otsaid panels and adapted to close the space therebetween, top cover meansadapted to be closed over the carrier ai'ter the doors have been closedto loclr the same at their upper portions, and means for locking thedoors closed along their bot-toms.

ll. In a baggage carrier having a onepiece bottom member, a pair ot iXedpanels extended trom. opposite sides et the bottom member, a partitionmember connecting the panels at a medial point and dividing the carrierinto sections, doors hinged to the opposite sides ot one oi said panelsand adapted to close the space therebetween, top cover means adapted tobe closed over 'the carrier after the doors have been closed to loclrthe same at. Atheir' upper portions, and means for locking the doorsclosed along their free edges and their bottoms.

l2. In a baggage carrier having a onepieee bottom member, a pair offixed panelsextended from opposite sides ot the bottom member, apartition member connecting the panels at a medial point and dividingthe carrier into sections, doors hinged to the opposite sides of one ofsaid panels and adapted to close the space therebetween, top cover meansadapted to be closed over the carrier after the doors have been closedto lock the same at their u per portions, and means for locking theCoors closed along their :tree edges and their bottoms, said means beingactuated upon closing ot t-he top cover means.

13. In a baggage carrier of the class described, a pair of corner postmembers, a door member hinged to one ot` said corner post members, alocking bolt slidably mount-V ed along the outer tree edge ot the doormember, locking lugs carried by the bolt, keepers carried by the secondcorner post member and adapted to receive said lugs, and means foractuating said locking member to its operative position.

14, In a baggage carrier of the rclass described, a pair ot corner postmembers, a door member hinged to one of said corner post members, alocking bolt slidably mounted along the outer free edge ot the doormember, locking lugs Acarried by the bolt, keepers carried by the secondcorner post member and adapted to receive said lugs, means for actuatingsaid locking member to its operativek position, a keeper adjacent thellO bottom edge of the door member, and additional locking means carriedby the bolt and engageable with the keeper.

l5. In a baggage carrier of the class described, a pair of corner postmembers, a door member hinged to one of said corner post members, alocking bolt slidably mounted along the outer free edge of the doormember, locking lugs carried by the bolt, keepers carried by the secondcorner post member and adapted to receive said lugs, means for actuatingsaid locking member to its operative position, a keeper adjacent thebottom edge of the door member, additional locking means carried by thebolt and engageable with the keeper, means normally urging the bolt loan inactive position, and a top cover for the carrier adapted in closingto .move the bolt against its urging means.

In testimony whereof I hereunto a'lix my 20 signature.

GEORGE HENRY XVHEARY.

